Freeman a finalist for national superintendent of the year
January 2009
Dr. Suzanne Freeman, a two-time graduate of Auburn University's College of Education, could soon make history as the first Alabamian recognized as the nation's top school superintendent.
Freeman '92, who oversees the newly-formed Trussville City School System, is one of four finalists for the National Superintendent of the Year award given by the American Association of School Administrators. The winner will be announced at the AASA National Conference on Education, scheduled for February 19 to 21 in San Francisco.
In the 22-year history of the award, Freeman is the first finalist to hail from Alabama. The list of finalists, which was whittled from 50 to four in December, also includes candidates from Atlanta, Indianapolis and Lexington, Ky.
Freeman, who earned a doctorate in early childhood education from Auburn after receiving a master's degree in elementary education, was named in October 2008 as the state superintendent of the year by the School Superintendents of Alabama. She said she was "humbled'' by the recognition and that the groundwork for her success was laid in the College of Education.
"I had numerous opportunities with really great people, with professors and students, to talk about ideas,'' said Freeman, who became Trussville's first superintendent in 2004. "There was a real push and feel for how we can make things better for children in public schools. That's where I was really exposed to bigger, grander ideas and was really inspired to make things better for children in public education.
"That seed of continuous improvement was planted there.''
Her tenure as superintendent in Trussville, a suburb of Birmingham, has been quite eventful. She led the school system through the construction of a state-of-the-art, $70 million high school and the launch of high school curriculum additions that included the state's first biomedical academy, as well as offerings in law, engineering, culinary arts, finance, health, construction, business and marketing and information technology. Soon after being hired, Freeman conducted a whirlwind tour of civic groups and community forums to find out what parents and students wanted from their local school system.
"People initially didn't have a voice,'' Freeman said. "We spent a lot of time having structured conversations and some unstructured conversations with our community, our parents and our students. We want everybody to be connected and to feel ownership of their school.''
Members of the Trussville school board were effusive in their praise of Freeman's ability to motivate students and employ cutting-edge classroom concepts. The overwhelmingly positive feedback, coupled with her impressive resume, helped Freeman stand out from the pack when the SSA identified the state's top superintendent.
Before becoming Trussville's superintendent, Freeman served in the same capacity for Cullman City Schools for four years. She had previously worked as an assistant principal for Auburn City Schools for three years and as a principal for five.
While Freeman could become the first superintendent from the state to receive a national award, she has joined a long line of College of Education graduates who have distinguished themselves as superintendents in Alabama. Of the 22 SSA state superintendents of the year named since 1988, nine hold degrees from Auburn University. In addition to Freeman, these alumni include Dr. J. Terry Jenkins '83 (2005), Thad Morgan '66 (1999), Dr. H. Bruce Wright '63 (1998), Dr. J. Phillip Raley '71 (1997), Dr. Joseph B. Morton '69 (1996), Lance Grissett '63 (1995), Dr. John H. Mosley '58 (1989), and Brandon Sparkman '70 (1988). In addition, past Auburn trustee Dr. Thomas Ingram Jr. was honored in 1990.
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